Electrophotography – Internal machine environment – Particle or contaminant control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-02
2001-03-20
Grainger, Quana M. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Internal machine environment
Particle or contaminant control
C399S103000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205305
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
The present invention relates to a developing apparatus employable by an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, which employs an electrophotographic system.
Generally speaking, an image forming apparatus that employs an electrophotographic image formation system also employs a process cartridge system, according to which an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a processing means for processing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, are integrated in the form of a cartridge, which is removably installable in the main assembly of an image forming apparatus. Also according to this process cartridge system, an image forming apparatus can be maintained by the users themselves without relying on service personnel. Thus, the employment of a process cartridge system drastically improves the operational efficiency of an image forming apparatus. Therefore, a process cartridge system is widely used as the image formation system for an image forming apparatus.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, such a process cartridge as the one described above comprises two sections: a development frame
12
, as a shell for housing a developing means, which holds a development roller
9
b
, and a toner frame
11
, as a developer container, which holds toner t. The development frame
12
and the toner frame
11
are joined by ultrasonic welding. More specifically, referring to
FIG. 9
, either the development frame
12
or the toner frame
11
is provided with a pair of welding ribs
16
, which are located, one for one, along the longitudinal edges of the frame, extending in parallel to the longitudinal edges of the opening
80
of the development frame
12
or the opening
81
of the toner frame
11
. The welding rib
16
is provided with a director, which is located on the top surface of the rib
16
, and this director is melted and fused with the surface of the opposing frame, by ultrasonic welding. Further, the development frame
12
or the toner frame
11
is provided with a pair of elastic members
54
and
56
in the form of a piece of thick tape, which are fixed, one for one, to the longitudinal ends of the frame, with the use of a piece of double-sided adhesive tape or the like. As the two frames are joined by ultrasonic welding, the elastic members
54
and
56
are pinched between the two frames, and seal the gap between the two frames because of their elasticity, preventing the toner from leaking from the longitudinal ends of the cartridge.
However, in the case of a conventional process cartridge, the welded seam is weak across the portion adjacent to the end portion, in terms of the width direction of the process cartridge, of the elastic member for preventing developer leak; and the joint between the development frame and the toner frame does not have sufficient strength or rigidity to hold fast the end of the elastic member. Therefore, toner is liable to leak due to the vibrations that occur as the toner seal is pulled out by a user when a process cartridge is used for the first time, or due to the shock that occurs when a process cartridge is installed into, or removed from, an image forming apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to make it possible for a development frame and a developer frame to be reliably welded across the portion where an elastic seal is positioned, so that it becomes possible to provide a developing apparatus that does not leak toner from the interface between the elastic seal and the development frame or the developer frame.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce the number of areas of the interface between a development frame and a developer frame, across which the two frames are not welded, so that it becomes possible to provide a developing apparatus that does not leak toner.
Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably hold an elastic seal, so that it becomes possible to provide a developing apparatus that does not leak toner.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5943529 (1999-08-01), Miyabe, et al.
patent: 6014534 (2000-01-01), Goebel et al.
patent: 9-197792 (1997-07-01), None
Chadani Kazuo
Matsuzaki Hiroomi
Suzuki Akira
Canon Kaubshiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Grainger Quana M.
LandOfFree
Developing apparatus having welded-together accommodating... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Developing apparatus having welded-together accommodating..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Developing apparatus having welded-together accommodating... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2493786